<p>SparkECrash-</p>
<p>I did the Howard Hughes Research Fellows program last summer. I think there were more than 70 applicants and 30 students were admitted. I heard that it was even more competitive this year. I think they look for students that don’t have much research experience but are passionate about a specific topic that they want to do research in. You also need a recommendation from a professor at the beginning of second semester so make sure you get to know a professor well enough during first semester so that they can write one for you. They don’t use GPA as a very heavy factor since it’s only one semester. Just make sure that you put a lot of detail into your essays about two areas that interest you. I really enjoyed the program because a lot of my friends were in it and we were also paid really well. Many students continued working in the same lab during the school year.</p>